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LEARNING AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY LONDON

Engage with the world, from the vantage point of a culturally diverse global city.

BA (Hons)

Philosophy

UCAS code: PH1L

Explore fundamental questions about the nature of reality, and engage with the most influential thinkers in history with a BA (Hons) Philosophy degree.

Key information

Study mode

Full-time

Start date

September 2026

Duration

3 years

UCAS code

PH1L

Annual fees

Home: £9,790
International: £23,857

Location

St Katharine Docks & The City, London

  • Optional semester in Boston, USA
  • Optional work placement
  • Eligible for double degree
    Philosophy BA – Northeastern University (USA)

Why choose this programme?

Our BA (Hons) Philosophy programme explores life’s most fundamental questions, for example: What is reality? What can we know? And how should we act?

You’ll grapple with vital questions about the world and our place in it, examining arguments and theories from humanity’s most incisive, creative and influential thinkers. In the process, you’ll develop rigour and clarity in your own thinking and writing – skills that are highly prized by today’s employers.

  • Enhance your abilities in critical thinking, research, analysis, problem-solving and communication.
  • Personalise your curriculum with electives, deepening your specialist knowledge or using interdisciplinary studies to broaden your experience.
  • Connect with industry partners from diverse sectors, and develop skills that will open up a wide range of possible careers.
  • Study for your philosophy degree in London, one of the most vibrant and diverse cities on the planet.
  • Expand your horizons with the opportunity to spend a semester in the USA.
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Study in London

Experience state-of-the-art campus facilities in the heart of one of the world’s best student cities, where the bustling global city of business, technology and culture acts as an extension of your classroom.

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Industry experience

Learning through experience is core to our approach. Throughout your studies, you’ll have opportunities to work on challenges that have real-life impact and elevate your classroom learning.

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Global community

As part of Northeastern University’s network of 13 university campuses across the USA, Canada and London, we offer a truly global mindset, with a community of staff and students in London from almost 100 nationalities.

What our students say

Studying and living in the USA for a semester as part of my degree has allowed me to expand my global perspective, gain a greater level of independence and adapt to and experience new ways of learning.

Beth testimonial

Beth

Politics and data science student

What our students say

Smaller classes mean you get to know your professors. It feels more personal. Being so close to London and the rest of England and Europe is so unique and offers so much opportunity, I have loved my time at the university.

Brian testimonial

Brian

Data science student

What our students say

NU London offered a specialised opportunity to study an honours programme in my degree subject, heightened by small class sizes, and more personalised features in the lectures. My lecturers knew my style of learning and my ability and were able to tailor the information into the way I best understood it.

Bryan testimonial

Bryan

Economics student

What our students say

The resources available, both on and beyond our beautiful campus, combined with the wealth of opportunity and support from our lecturers, make it a special, personalised place where students are pushed to do more and become more. 

Elena testimonial

Elena

Business student

What our students say

I have quite honestly loved every moment. The teaching has been amazing, the classes are always interesting, and I never run out of exciting events to attend. I cannot wait to see what the future holds.

Lily testimonial

Lily

English student

Programme overview

What you’ll study

What you’ll study

Our wide-ranging BA (Hons) Philosophy curriculum covers the fundamental ideas and arguments that have been explored by the world’s greatest intellects throughout history. You’ll explore key questions about life, knowledge, reality and ethics, including:

  • key philosophical questions and methods, and themes and arguments from key texts
  • a diverse range of philosophical traditions – from ancient Greek and Buddhist philosophy to 17th and 18th century European philosophy – engaging with debates that remain vital today
  • formal logic, using the tools of propositional and predicate logic to construct and assess arguments
  • the relationship between technology and humanity, and the ethical issues raised by emerging technologies such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence and virtual reality
  • fundamental ethical and societal issues such as liberty and justice, autonomy and responsibility, power and oppression, and feminism and equality

Courses

Summary

The courses that run in each academic year are subject to change in line with faculty availability and student demand, and may have limited capacity or be unavailable to you due to the timetable. There is, therefore, no guarantee every course will be available every year.

Elective pathways

You’ll have the opportunity to select about 40% of your degree content, tailoring your curriculum to your personal goals. You might choose electives that deepen your knowledge of your main degree discipline, explore a range of different subjects, or follow a defined pathway to develop a secondary area of expertise.

If you take three or more courses, across at least two levels in a defined area outside your main discipline, you can apply to receive recognition for this in a letter alongside your degree certificate and transcript (e.g. BA (Hons) Philosophy with Psychology).

  • Metaphysics
  • Philosophy of Mind
  • Philosophy of Science
  • Artificial Intelligence and Data Ethics
  • Intermediate Philosophy Directed Study I
  • Intermediate Philosophy Directed Study II

(Option to study in Boston, USA and follow a US curriculum in the second semester)

  • Advanced Ethics
  • Aesthetics
  • Feminism
  • Kant and Post-Kantian Philosophy
  • Philosophy of Logic and Language
  • Political Philosophy
  • Advanced Philosophy Directed Study I
  • Advanced Philosophy Directed Study II
  • Advanced Special Topics in Philosophy

How you’ll learn

You’ll learn through a combination of:

  • lectures
  • workshops
  • seminars and tutorials
  • guided independent study
  • hands-on or community-based projects
  • a semester-long work placement in your final year

We pride ourselves on our ability to offer personal attention, with small class sizes that allow everyone to participate and thrive:

  • most lectures and seminars will have a maximum of 40 students
  • tutorials typically have up to five students, and may sometimes be one-to-one
  • in your intermediate research course you will receive two-to-one or one-to-one tuition, and in your final project you will benefit from one-to-one tuition

Studying in the heart of London, you’ll engage through immersive learning in one of the most vibrant and diverse cities on the planet. You’ll also have the opportunity to experience university life in the USA, with an option to spend a semester at Northeastern University’s Boston campus.

How you’ll learn

Careers and employability

Skills for a successful career

The BA (Hons) Philosophy programme will provide you with a broad set of transferable skills needed in many graduate jobs – philosophy-focused or otherwise. You’ll develop the ability to:

  • communicate complex ideas and diverse perspectives clearly and effectively
  • employ critical reasoning skills
  • explain and discuss key questions and debates
  • interpret and evaluate ideas and theories
  • use philosophical devices to develop persuasive arguments
Skills for a successful career
Sectors you could work in

Sectors you could work in

Studying in the heart of London, you’ll find a myriad of graduate job opportunities on your doorstep. Philosophy provides students with a range of skills that are highly valued by employers, opening pathways to careers in sectors such as: 

  • journalism, media and publishing
  • finance and consultancy
  • law and legal services
  • government and public policy
  • education and academia
  • technology and digital ethics
  • healthcare management and medical ethics

Networking for your future

Years 1 & 2 – you’ll engage with a range of industry partners, exploring your goals and possible career paths. 

Year 3 – you’ll use your experience to choose the right industry partner for your final year work placement.  

Graduation – you’ll have developed industry contacts and skills for a smooth transition to professional life.

Dedicated careers support

At Northeastern University London, we work with you from day one to support your career ambitions.  

Our dedicated careers counsellors will help you identify your goals and develop a plan to help you succeed, from application through to interview. 

Where you’ll study

Where you’ll study

At our vibrant campus in the heart of London, you’ll find modern facilities and inspiring surroundings with everything you need for your studies.

See our campus

Chat with our students

Want to know more about life at Northeastern University London? Chat with one of our student ambassadors for their take on what it’s like to be part of our global community.

Chat with a student
Visit us

Visit us

On-campus and virtual open days
Experience our thriving community for yourself, explore our state-of-the-art facilities and hear from current students and staff about what it’s like to study with us.

Book your open day

Meet the Faculty

Meet some of the academic staff from the Humanities Faculty.

Experiential case study

Experiential case study

Networking and conference: ‘Psychology and the Other’

The ‘Psychology and the Other’ two-day conference brought together over 200 attendees, including leading academics, professionals and students from various fields, to explore the intersections of psychology, spirituality and the body-mind connection.

Discover more

Entry requirements

Standard offer

Our typical offer for undergraduate degrees is:

If you’re predicted to achieve below our typical offer, we’d still like to hear from you. We review every application holistically, and may invite you to interview so we can learn more about you.

If English is not your native language, you’ll need to show you’re proficient in English to study with us. You can find more on the test results we accept on our entry requirements page.

Our entry requirements

Tuition fees

Fees

For Home students, our annual undergraduate fees for 2026 entry are £9,790

For International students, our annual undergraduate fees for 2026 entry are £23,857 

Undergraduate fees
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Bursaries

We offer a means-tested bursary scheme for Home students whose household incomes are under £63,500. 

Bursaries for Home students
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Funding

Home students starting their first undergraduate degree may be able to apply for a government-funded loan. You may also be able to eligible for a maintenance loan, depending on your household income. 

Tuition fee and maintenance loans
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How to apply

Ready to join our thriving, global community?

How to apply

Frequently asked questions

Want to know more about our programmes or the student experience at Northeastern University London? Find the answers to all your burning questions.

Learning through experience is core to our approach. Throughout your studies, you’ll have unparalleled opportunities to work on challenges that have real-life impact and elevate your classroom learning. And our close partnerships with organisations from startups to multinationals will give you a head start in your career, offering experience that will help you stand out from the pack.

From site visits, talks from guest speakers in your field and industry bootcamps, to exploring real-life case studies and participating in research projects directed by leading academics, you’ll apply the skills and theory you’re learning to solve real problems set by external organisations, making a tangible impact on their work and decision-making.

In the process, you’ll gain the skills you need for the future, such as teamwork, creative thinking and adaptability – all while building your network, your confidence and your career prospects.

Learn more

Many of our undergraduate degrees offer the opportunity to spend a semester at Northeastern University’s Boston, USA campus for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You’ll make new connections and get a taste of student life overseas, opening your eyes to new ways of living, learning and teaching, and the vibrant atmosphere of a US university campus.

During your semester in Boston, you’ll follow a US curriculum, earning credits that will count towards your Northeastern University London degree, so you’ll still graduate on time.

You can see on our degree pages which programmes include the opportunity to spend a semester in Boston.

Find out more

Your degree will combine mandatory courses that are built into your programme and you must study, plus options that you can select from the elective course list. Electives provide the opportunity to create a bespoke programme of studies, and across different disciplines. We offer a broad range of electives across numerous subject disciplines.

This enables you to follow an additional subject “pathway” – for example art history, technology & ethics, or sustainability – and gain official recognition in your transcript for the study you have undertaken outside of your main degree subject.

Find out more

Our professional work placements – known as “co-ops” (cooperative education) – offer a unique opportunity to explore potential careers and apply your classroom learning to real-world challenges.

Co-op is our most immersive experiential programme. Through co-op placements you’ll immerse yourself with one of our partner organisations over a period of months, working with mentors who are fully invested in your success. You’ll be supported to find the opportunities that are right for you, and to make the most of your experience.

Learn more

Life at Northeastern University London is about more than gaining an exceptional education. It’s also about discovering a place where you can grow, make new connections, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

With students and staff from almost 100 nationalities, you’ll be part of a truly diverse and lively community where everyone is different, and everyone belongs. With this vibrant mix of people from different nationalities, backgrounds and cultures, you can expect a university experience that’s fun, exciting, and filled with new discoveries.

You’ll find a busy calendar of events happening across our campus buildings, in our student accommodation, and in and around London’s myriad of cultural hotspots. From themed social events and cultural celebrations to creative writing open mics, crafting sessions and gaming nights, there’s always something new to explore. And you can check out stimulating workshops and talks on a broad range of topics including science, philosophy, and more.

Learn more

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